Open Research Champions: new appointments

In April 2021 the University launched its sector-leading Open Research Champions programme and appointed 19 Champions across 9 Schools. Open Research Champions are staff and students connected with research who volunteer a small amount of their time promote Open Research and facilitate the adoption of open and reproducible research practices.

The programme is now entering its second year with the appointment of 15 new Champions. They will join 10 existing Champions whose appointments have been extended by a further 12 months. This brings the total number of Champions to 25. They range from research student to Professor, and are based in 13 Schools and Technical Services. Profiles and contact details for all Champions can be found on the Champions website.

The Champions programme was launched under the University’s Open Research Action Plan, and is supported by the Library’s Research Engagement team. In its first year Champions pursued a number of projects, including undertaking a University-wide survey to map the landscape of Open Research knowledge and practices, piloting the use of an electronic lab notebook solution, and working to develop an open hardware community. All Champions were active within their Schools, using their local networks to propagate Open Research awareness, knowledge and skills.

Phil Newton, Research Dean for Environment, who leads implementation of the Action Plan, commented: ‘We started this programme because we wanted to support grassroots efforts to promote and support more open and reproducible ways of doing research. I have been bowled over by the enthusiasm and productivity of our 2021 cohort. I am delighted to welcome these new Champions as our community continues to grow. I also want to thank those of our Champions who are stepping down after having generously given their time over the last 12 months’.

Find out more at the Open Research Champions website. If you have any enquiries, please contact Robert Darby, Research Data Manager.

Open Research Champions 2022

New appointments are marked with an asterisk. View profiles here.

• Agriculture, Policy and Development: Auvikki de Boon, PGR; Marcello De Maria, Postdoctoral Research Assistant; Sophie Read, PGR
• Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science: Amy Richardson*, Senior Research Fellow; Hong Yang, Associate Professor
• Arts and Communication Design: Nathan Willis*, PGR
• Biological Sciences: Zoë Dennehy, PGR; Eleanor Jackson*, PGR; Becks Spake*, Lecturer
• Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy: Hannah Piekarz*, PGR; Julia Rodriguez-Garcia*, Lecturer
• Henley Business School: Kleio Akrivou*, Professor
• Humanities: Sarra Bouabdeli*, PGR
• Institute of Education: Daisy Powell*, Associate Professor; Anna Tsakalaki*, Lecturer
• Law: Marzia Briel, PGR
• Literature and Languages: John McKeane*, Lecturer;
• Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences: Martin Lester, Lecturer; Remi Tailleux*, Associate Professor
• Politics, Economic and International Relations: Joseph O’Mahoney, Lecturer; Sam Rawlings*, Associate Professor
• Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences: Kirsty Hodgson, PGR; Farah Wiita*, PGR; Brendan Williams, PGR
• Technical Services: Shan Shen*, Technical Head of CINN Research Facility

Alumni of the programme who stepped down at the end of April are listed here.